1

The US touches three oceans

Image: Daiwei Lu

Most people remember the Atlantic and the Pacific, but the Arctic often gets overlooked. Alaska’s northern edge dips into icy Arctic waters, technically giving the US access to all three. From sunbathing to snowshoeing, we’ve got the full spectrum of ocean vibes covered!

2

America has the shortest river in the world

Image: Gaurav Kumar

Montana is home to the Roe River, which runs for just 201 feet. That’s shorter than a city block! It flows from its source at Giant Springs to the Missouri River near Great Falls. Sure, it’s not as mighty as the Mississippi, but it holds the record for shortest river, and that’s enough to brag about.

3

Some NYC buildings are big enough to have their own zip codes

Image: Andrew Jephson

Most of us share a zip code with our neighbors. In New York City, though, some skyscrapers are so massive they have one all to themselves. You know the Empire State Building? Yep, it has its own zip code: 10118. The same goes for the MetLife and Chrysler Buildings. Manhattan alone has over 300 zip codes!

4

Alaska is the westernmost and easternmost state

Image: Rod Long

That’s right: Alaska holds the title as both the farthest west and farthest east state in the United States. How is that possible? Well, the Aleutian Islands, which belong to Alaska, stretch so far out that they cross the International Date Line and enter the Eastern Hemisphere. Isn’t that just fascinating?

5

From Stamford, CT, all roads lead to New York

Image: Matt Foxx

Picture this: no matter which direction you drive—north, south, east, or west— you can end up in New York if you start in Stamford, Connecticut. Heading east requires a boat, of course, but it still counts!

6

Florida and California don’t have the longest coastline

Image: Jakob Owens

Think sun and sand, and Florida or California might come to mind. But the state with the longest coastline is actually Alaska, by a long shot. With over 6,600 miles of shoreline, it beats the combined coastlines of all other states. Snow lovers will enjoy this one!

7

California has almost as many people as all of Canada

Image: Joseph Chan

Yes, the Golden State is that packed. California’s population hovers around 39 million, not enough to beat Canada, which has roughly 41 million. But give it two more years, and we’ll discuss this again. This may not sound so surprising, but bear in mind that we’re comparing a single state to a whole country!

8

Only two states are truly off on their own

Image: Dave Hoefler

Most states have neighbors, but that’s not the case for Alaska and Hawaii. They’re the loners of the country, separated by either the ocean or international borders. Meanwhile, Missouri and Tennessee are the social butterflies of the map, each touching eight other states. Whatever the number of neighbors, we love them all!

9

The four largest US cities (by area) are in Alaska

Image: Kedar Gadge

When we talk about big cities, most folks think of population. But if you’re measuring square miles, Alaska takes the cake. Sitka, Juneau, Wrangell, and Anchorage are the four largest cities by land area. You could fit entire states inside some of these!

10

The first US capital wasn’t D.C. or Philly

Image: Florian Wehde

Washington, D.C., may be the capital now, but it wasn’t the first, you know? That honor goes to New York City, which held the title for a couple of years after the Constitution was ratified. The capital later moved to Philadelphia and then finally settled in D.C.

11

Los Angeles had a name as long as your arm

Image: Roberto Nickson

Before it was known for Hollywood, Los Angeles had a name that would never fit on a postcard. The original Spanish settlers called it El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula . Translation? You try saying that! Thankfully, we shortened it. "L.A." is just easier for everyone.

12

Nebraska is the only triply landlocked state

Image: Laura Seaman

If you’re in Nebraska and want to see the ocean, you’ll have to cross at least three states. That makes it the most landlocked state in the U.S.—"triply landlocked," to be exact. For those craving a beach day, that’s a bit of a hike. But for folks who love open plains, it’s prime real estate.

1

The first Thanksgiving feast

Image: Claudio Schwarz

The story of the first Thanksgiving is often heavily romanticized, but it was largely rooted in political and survival needs. Wampanoag leader Ousamequin reached out to the English at Plymouth not out of inherent friendship, but because his people had been devastated by epidemic disease and needed allies.

Moreover, English Thanksgivings were originally solemn occasions of fasting and prayer —quite different from today’s feasts of abundance and celebration. The truth is that around the 1760s, Pilgrim descendants in Plymouth, concerned about their declining cultural influence, began promoting the idea that the original Pilgrims were America’s founding fathers. The notion of a holiday symbolizing unity and friendship between colonists and natives gained traction, eventually shaping the Thanksgiving tradition we know today.

2

Paul Revere’s "Midnight Ride"

Image: Priscilla Du Preez

Though "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" is legendary, Revere certainly didn’t act alone. The famous silversmith was only one of several riders, including William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, who warned of the British army’s approach. To be fair, much of the well-known story was fabled by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem "Paul Revere’s Ride," which is far from a historically accurate account.

Additionally, Revere would have never shouted "The British are coming!"—that wouldn’t have made much sense, as most Massachusetts colonists still identified as British. The actual alert was closer to "The Regulars are coming," referring to British troops.

3

The frontier was lawless

Image: Idean Azad

Popular culture paints the American West as a wild, lawless frontier, but crime was actually lower in many Western towns than in Eastern cities at the time. Local codes, vigilante groups, and early forms of law enforcement helped keep order, even in the most remote pioneer towns.

Many towns established designated areas where firearms were off-limits, requiring visitors to put away their weapons before entering. Of course, cities like Dodge City and Tombstone had their rowdy moments, but local communities established governance quickly. In many cases, justice in the West was rough but effective, and it helped establish America’s early legal backbone.

4

Washington chopped down a cherry tree

Image: Terence Starkey

Though it’s deeply etched in American memory, the story of young George Washington confessing to chopping down a cherry tree is entirely fictional. This tale was fabricated by Parson Weems, Washington’s biographer, to depict him as morally upright and honest from an early age.

While the story is charming and has contributed to America’s sense of ethos, it underscores the tendency in early American history to create heroic, almost mythical personas for its leaders. Yet, Washington’s legacy hardly needs fabricated childhood anecdotes to shine; his real courage and dedication to his country speak for themselves.

5

The Liberty Bell rang on Independence Day

Image: Dan Mall

The story of the Liberty Bell ringing for independence traces back to a fictional tale by George Lippard in an 1847 issue of The Saturday Courier. In this story, an elderly bellman in the State House steeple anxiously awaited news of Congress’s decision. Doubting their resolve, he suddenly heard his grandson’s triumphant shout: "Ring, Grandfather! Ring!"

This story captivated the public and cemented the Liberty Bell’s association with the Declaration of Independence. However, historians now doubt that the bell actually rang in 1776; at the time the State House steeple was reportedly in poor condition, and the bell may not have been in use. Though many bells rang throughout Philadelphia on July 8 to celebrate the Declaration, whether the Liberty Bell itself rang remains uncertain due to a lack of contemporary accounts.

6

Betsy Ross made the first American flag

Image: Luke Michael

The story of Betsy Ross sewing the first American flag is one of America’s favorite tales, but the sad truth is that there’s no historical evidence to support it. The story only emerged nearly a century after the Revolution, when her grandson published the account in a paper for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1870.

While the Continental Congress did approve a flag design in 1777, it’s unclear who actually made it. However, despite historians' doubts, the early flag design with 13 stars in a circle is still popularly known as "the Betsy Ross flag."

7

Orson Welles’ broadcast induced mass panic

Image: Muhammed ÖÇAL

It’s widely believed that Orson Welles’ 1938 radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds caused widespread panic across the United States, with listeners mistaking it for real news of an alien invasion. However, the actual extent of the panic was greatly exaggerated by newspapers looking to discredit radio as a rival news source.

While the broadcast did unsettle some listeners, most of the audience knew it was a dramatic performance. Reports of mass hysteria were largely fabricated, and ironically, the media’s reaction to the broadcast may be a greater testament to its power than Welles’ fictional invasion ever could be.

8

Cowboys wore big, flashy hats

Image: Brice Cooper

While movies and TV shows often show cowboys wearing wide-brimmed, flashy hats, most cowboys actually wore bowler or derby hats until the late 19th century. These hats were more practical and better suited for riding. Men also wore flat wool caps, Mexican sombreros, or even old Civil War hats like the kepi.

The wide-brimmed "cowboy hat" only became popular later and evolved into a cultural icon thanks to cinematic depictions of the Wild West. As with most things, in truth practicality ruled the range, and the stereotype of the cowboy hat developed more from fiction than reality.

9

Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity

Image: Felix Mittermeier

Benjamin Franklin’s famous kite experiment didn’t really "discover" electricity but rather demonstrated that lightning was a form of electrical energy. In fact, historians aren’t even sure whether he performed the famous experiment himself. At the time, scientists in Europe had been experimenting with electricity for decades.

That being said, Franklin’s findings did help advance science, and laid the groundwork for future innovations. His research not only led to the practical study of electricity, but his invention of the lightning rod also helped save both people and structures. In any case, Franklin never patented any of his inventions, believing that "products of the human imagination belonged to no one person," so he likely wouldn’t have wanted credit as the discoverer of electricity either.

10

The Fourth of July marks the signing of the Declaration

Image: Trent Yarnell

The Declaration of Independence is celebrated on July 4th, but the actual timeline of events is a bit more complex. Independence was formally approved by Congress on July 2, 1776, through the Virginia resolution, which officially severed ties with Britain. However, the text of the Declaration was subjected to intense debate and revisions before Congress approved the wording on July 4.

Further complicating things, the Declaration wasn't publicly read until July 8, and it took several more weeks before all signers had added their names. While some Founding Fathers, like John Adams, initially advocated for celebrating on July 2, the public ultimately gravitated toward July 4—the date displayed on the final document.

1

Nate Thurmond

Image: Salah Regouane

In the 1960s and early ’70s, Nate Thurmond anchored the middle for the Golden State Warriors, outmuscling giants and grabbing rebounds as if the ball belonged only to him. Later, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he became the kind of veteran every young team needs—steady, selfless, and always doing the dirty work that doesn’t make the headlines but wins the crowd’s respect. Both franchises retired his No. 42, a fitting tribute to a blue-collar superstar.

2

Pete Maravich

Image: daschorsch

Playing in the 1970s, Pete "Pistol Pete" Maravich starred for the Atlanta Hawks and later the New Orleans Jazz. His ball-handling and creativity—whirling passes, deep jumpers—looked like magic tricks that made crowds gasp. After a 10-year professional career and being named an All-Star five times, Atlanta retired his No. 44, and both the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans hung his No. 7 jersey.

3

Moses Malone

Image: Abhay siby Mathew

Moses Malone was a rebounding machine, plain and simple. He dominated the boards for the Houston Rockets and then the Philadelphia 76ers, where he helped deliver a championship after famously predicting "Fo’, fo’, fo’." Both franchises honored him by retiring his No. 24 (Rockets) and No. 2 (76ers), a fitting salute to one of the game’s toughest, hardest-working big men.

4

Bob Lanier

Image: Batu Gezer

Bob Lanier, known both for his silky post moves and those legendary size-22 shoes, was a true powerhouse of the 1970s. With the Detroit Pistons, he combined strength and finesse, scoring with a soft touch and rebounding like a man on a mission. Later, in Milwaukee, he brought the same fire and leadership to a younger Bucks team, proving that experience could be just as valuable as raw talent. It’s no wonder both Detroit and Milwaukee raised his No. 16 to the rafters, honoring a giant whose big shoes came with an even bigger heart.

5

Charles Barkley

Image: Abhay siby Mathew

Charles Barkley was never the tallest guy on the court—just 6 ft 6 in—but with roughly 252 pounds of muscle, grit, and pure attitude, he played like a bulldozer on wheels. Known as "The Round Mound of Rebound," he crashed the boards with fearless energy. In Philadelphia, he became a fan favorite for his fiery play and quick wit; in Phoenix, he shone even brighter, winning MVP and taking the Suns all the way to the Finals. Both franchises hung up his No. 34 as a salute to a player who made hard work look heroic.

6

Earl Monroe

Image: Chaojie Ni

Earl "The Pearl" Monroe brought poetry to the hardwood. In the 1960s and ’70s, his smooth, stop-and-go style made defenders freeze, and fans fall in love. Starting in Baltimore (now the Washington Wizards ), he turned the Bullets’ offense into a show: spin moves, crossovers, and jump shots that seemed to hang in the air. Then came his move to New York, where he teamed up with Walt Frazier to create one of the most graceful backcourts the NBA has ever seen. Both the Knicks and Wizards retired his No. 15 and No. 10: Monroe’s creativity made basketball feel like jazz.

7

Clyde Drexler

Image: Markus Spiske

In Portland, Clyde "The Glide" Drexler soared with effortless grace, gliding past defenders and making the rim look weightless. His mix of speed, style, and quiet confidence made him the heartbeat of the Trail Blazers through the 1980s and early ’90s. When he returned home to Houston in the mid-’90s, he helped secure a championship ring for the Rockets . Today, his No. 22 jersey hangs in the rafters in both Portland and Houston—a lasting tribute to a man who truly lived up to his nickname.

8

Oscar Robertson

Image: Abhay siby Mathew

What if you averaged a triple-double before anyone thought it was possible? Oscar Robertson did just that in the 1960s, stuffing the stat sheet for the Cincinnati Royals (now Sacramento Kings ) and later winning a title for the Milwaukee Bucks, cementing his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats. Both franchises retired his numbers 1 and 14, honoring the "Big O," one of the greatest players in NBA history.

9

Julius Erving

Image: Abhay siby Mathew

Long before modern dunks, Julius "Dr. J" Erving was taking flight, turning layups into art and slam dunks into poetry. He first captivated fans with the Nets in the ABA before becoming a true icon in Philadelphia . Both teams honored his brilliance: the Nets retired his No. 32 , and the 76ers lifted his No. 6 into the rafters. When you change the game, you don’t just earn a banner—you earn two.

10

Wilt Chamberlain

Image: Tim Hart

Not many players inspire stories that sound too wild to be true, so if basketball had tall tales, Wilt Chamberlain would star in all of them. A 7-foot-1 force of nature, a giant with legendary scoring numbers—including a 100-point game—Wilt’s dominance stretched across the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers. All three teams retired his No. 13.

11

Shaquille O’Neal

Image: Luis Montejo

A 7-foot-1, 325-pound tower of strength, Shaq shook backboards, rims, and entire defenses. After playing college basketball, O'Neal was drafted by the Orlando Magic, where he played for four years. Later, he starred with the Lakers, winning three consecutive titles, then helped the Miami Heat capture its first championship. All three franchises retired his No. 32 and No. 34 jerseys, because when Shaq arrived, the fun—and the winning—followed.

12

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Image: Alex Haney

With his skyhook reaching somewhere near the clouds, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored more points than anyone in NBA history for decades. He led the Milwaukee Bucks to a title, then added five more with the Lakers. Both franchises retired his iconic No. 33, honoring a player who blended grace and dominance like no one else.

13

Dikembe Mutombo

Image: Finnian HaDiep

One of the best shot-blockers and defensive players of all time, Dikembe Mutombo protected the paint like a personal fortress. He blocked shots, grabbed rebounds, and smiled through it all. The Denver Nuggets loved him. The Atlanta Hawks loved him. Both retired his No. 55. And yes, fans still remember that famous wagging finger after a big block.

14

Michael Jordan

Image: Abhay siby Mathew

Of course, "His Airness" would be on this list! Michael Jordan’s No. 23 isn’t just a jersey—it’s an icon. In Chicago, it hangs high as a symbol of six championships, clutch shots, and a golden era that fans still replay in their minds like a favorite movie. But there’s more: the Miami Heat have honored his number too, even though Jordan never suited up for them. Call it courtesy, call it class, but wherever you go, No. 23 still means one thing: Michael Jordan was here.